News

07.09.2019

MTSU to open Chris Young Café in fall to ‘encourage our students to dream bigger’

A newly renovated live entertainment venue on the Middle Tennessee State University campus will be named the Chris Young Café to honor the multiplatinum Nashville entertainer’s continued support of his alma mater.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, at an event Tuesday (July 9) at the Country Music Association headquarters on Music Row, thanked Young for lending his name for the venue — and giving $50,000 for renovations.

The newly named Chris Young Café, located in a standalone dining building and surrounded by residence halls, will be a teaching and practice place for student performers and technicians during the day and a performance venue at night for music, radio broadcasts, comedy and other entertainment.

“The Chris Young Café will encourage our students to dream bigger,” McPhee said. “Chris studied at MTSU and then launched a successful music industry career, so every time they see his name on the café, their aspirations will seem a little more obtainable if they follow in his footsteps and work as hard as he has.”

Young, who attended MTSU in 2005, has an impressive list of accomplishments, including membership in the Grand Ole Opry, 2 billion on-demand streams, 12 million singles sold and 11 career No. 1 singles. He has two Grammy nominations, as well as award nods from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards.

A global ambassador for country music, Young has maintained his True Blue ties to the Murfreesboro campus, funding an annual scholarship for recording industry students beginning in 2016 and donating a selection of his touring audio equipment in 2012.

“MTSU will always hold a special place in my heart,” Young said. “It helped me launch my music career and I’m glad for the opportunity to give back to the University.”

Located in the Woodmore Building and formerly known as the Cyber Café, the facility has 3,200 square feet of community and dining space with two raised platform stages. It is surrounded by windows, allowing for natural light, and is an easy walk from the Bragg Media and Entertainment Building.

The College of Media and Entertainment assumed management of the performance space last year, when faculty from the Department of Recording Industry began work to ready the café for shows.

Media and Entertainment Dean Ken Paulson said the college was “grateful to Chris for giving our students this hands-on opportunity to learn.”

“When you’re teaching students how to manage, book and promote a concert hall, club or theater, having a working venue on campus is invaluable,” Paulson said.

Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel said Young's support “means so much to the university, faculty and students.”

“His generosity will allow our students to gain real-world, hands-on experience in performing and live sound,” Keel said. “He is a wonderful role model for our students, not only because of his success, but because of his desire to continually give back and help others.”

Billboard earlier this year named MTSU’s recording industry department to its annual list of America’s top music business schools for the sixth year, once again joining counterparts across the country as top producers of ready-to-work music industry pros.

The trade magazine bragged about several MTSU alumni and also noted that the program was featured in an NBC Nightly News report that aired on Grammy night, along with a mention of MTSU’s now-sixth annual Grammy Week trip connecting students and staff with area alumni and industry professionals.

Alumni, former or current students, and faculty from across the university have been a part of more than 60 Grammy Award nominations in the last two decades. So far nine have won a total of 28 Grammys, including six repeat recipients, in categories from classical to country to gospel since 2001.

MTSU is committed to developing a community devoted to learning, growth and service. We hold these values dear, and there’s a simple phrase that conveys them: “I am True Blue.” Learn more at www.mtsu.edu/trueblue. For MTSU news anytime, visit www.MTSUnews.com.